Process of treating gaseous fluid



'Sept. 29, 1936. J. F. WAIT 0 PROCESS OF TREATING GASEOUS FLUID Original Filed May 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 29, 1936. J WAIT 2,055,809

PROCESS OF TREATING GASEOUS FLUID Original Filed May 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 $2 M M a enfol':

Patented Sept. 29, 1936 PATENT OFFICE PROCESS or TREATING GASEOUS FLUID Justin F. Wait, New York, N. Y.

Refiled for abandoned application Serial No.

449,338, May 2,1930. 1933.

. l 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a process and apparatus for illuminating and treating a gaseous fluid and objects therein, by means of electricity. It involves the use of high voltage and/or high frequency which may cause the illumination and which ,may also be used as for production of activated oxygen. The invention may thus be used to cause pleasant and useful results which satisfy a person and insure good health. This application was previously filed as Ser. No. 449,338 filed May 2, 1930. i

It has been common to cause light effects by discharge through a tube containing a gas such as neon, argon and mercury and combinations 15 thereof. In general such tubes have employed voltagesup to about 10,000. Such voltages have also been used to form a discharge through air or other oxygen containing gas with the resulting formation of ozone. The voltages so used, if in excess of that available as ordinarily generated or distributed by public service companies has been produced by means of transformers which require an alternating supply. M

I have devised a means whereby it is possible to generate a high voltage of controlled frequency as by causing relative motion between a magnetic field and a conductor which may be in a form of a multiplicity of coils in afield and bycausingsaid voltage to discharge between terminals, conductors or other equivalent form of electrode, lo cated in the close proximity of the generator. This phase of the invention whereby high voltage is generated at the point of use eliminates the hazard, inconvenience and. cost of distributing 35 current, caused by high voltage.

High voltage may be applied for a dual performance thus affording simplicity and lowering costs. I have found it desirable under some conditions to use the same source of high voltage for causing both light efiects and for the production of physical-chemical efiects and changes such as l the formation of ozone. The discharge zone for treating an oxygen containing gas may be in series or parallel, electrically with reference to the discharge zone of a tube or other means of producing a luminous efiect.

Movement of air or other gas is desired for some purposes involving the forming of an illuminating effect. Conductors and parts of a discharge zone may be cooled by flow of such air or other gas. Rays causechange in such a gas and movement of said gas can cause the rays to cause a desired reaction at a remote point. This effect may be as by ionization or chemical change such as the pro duction of ozone. When my invention is applied Serial No. 670,965

This application May 13 to increase human comfortand/ or health the air movement may produce a desirable ventilating or cooling effect.

My process may thus involve in combination, generation of high voltage at a desired frequency, 5 discharge through a confined gas and controlled motion of gaseous fluid. The confined gas may be such as neon in a sealed air free tube. The gaseous fluid may be air, making the process applicable for use in the home and other places where persons are apt to collect. With tubes containing gases which should be replaced or replenished, the frequency may be used to cause, as by induced heat, formationof 2. replacing portion.

The process may also be used for such purposes as advertising. The illuminating effects may be controlled to form figures and to cause impressions to be formed. Selected forms and types of tubes may be used to produce pleasant blue containing colors which appeal to the eye and act on the optical parts without irritation. Persons with contrasting colors in the form of clothing or pow ders or rouge appear quite pleasing under conditions of such display especially with direction of the color and other rays over a complete horizontel circle with large divergence vertically.

Neon, argon and other similar kinds of tubesare generally formed as small tubes and used to direct light over an angle of about 180 degrees or in every instancewith some restriction of the horizontal. circle or without uniformity. I have found it possible to have a complete circle as by formm a close spiral of tube of small diameter or by using a numberof tubes close together which so formthe elements of the surface of a cylinder. This thus yields a surface controlled as to area and shape by the use of a multiplicity of small tubes located fin'close proximity.

Sucl iasurface may be caused to give special efiects by controlling the arrangement of tubes 40 unlike as to gas content. For example a multiplicity of such tubes of two kinds, one of which yields a deep blue and the other a greenish blue. The tubes would then be so arranged that unlike tubes are in close proximity so that the mingled effect of the two colors may be observed In this manner the rays'of different sorts would be directed in the same general direction. Rays of one kind may be directed difierently from those of another thus producing special effects, for example,-the sides of a cylinder or cone may be of onefcolor whereas an end may be of another color, Similarly, a circle might. be quartered, each quarter being of a different color from the color of the adjacent Quarter. A difference in 5d p I em' 'l a sa efq s harg mar cause the formation of;a product such as ozone, an active form ofoxygenwhich will producede intensity is frequently the equivalent of a difference of color.

Geometric figures, regular or irregular, may be "formed of' luminous tubes. Such tubes may Icylinder' may be 'made up of parallel tubes corresponding:to-elementsxof the surface or. a cylinder' parallel' to the axis or the tubes 'may be as of a near close spiral wherein the tubes approximate the position of circumferential ele-.

ments of thesurface of a cylinder. Suchfigures may thus be formed of tubular elements of con trolled color and intensity.

lected place.

, tacting thesame sofas to split parts of "-such'rays' and to give further color control. Such effects may;beuse d1 in combination j with ray filters; Y

I The appearance of objects is] due to reflected light 7 and the luminosity of particles covering the object. .Myinvention may include means for coating objects. or-portionsthereof; with material which is influenced 'by'rays'gene'rate'd in the de-' scribed manner. f-Agents' such as ozone which maybe formed, may cause indirect action and 1 cause-such acoati ngj to "appearfluminous. A-

substance. such 'a slmetallioalu rninurn; 'may 'be partially coated by or adjacent to a product and" so cause luminosity'byyirtue oi the action of the rays on the] metallicaluminum or its equivalent,

I: refer; to aluminum or its equivalent as ionizing agent withoutcommitting myself to the exact mechan'i m oi reaction which appears to be'due'v I tofan iolniZiI effect but which may b'e'other'wise. 4.0

The process includes alteration of 'thei oxygen; containinggas and the generation of 'ozone with-' in' a luminous field. "If the illuminating'means-is' cylindricaliin shape, this effect is quite ro-- 55 s c 1 p the tube, may beimpinged on an electrode and so 'ncunced. ;The"wires onwhic 7 c f influenced electrically and as by c'ondensationof e rays fall are" oil and like coatings which may be contained n-.7 p'

"f'Ith e luminous tube produces, rays which ionize' the gaseous fluid inthe vicinity. This ionization is beneficial toa person and also assists in or f'nsirable action "such" as removal or alteration of odors and bacterial form. Rays, emittedfrom 1 assist in current flow, a similar efiectbeing'used to cause ion formation by impinging the 'blue rays aluminum or other foil-like substance. '1 "Ajfeatureof the invention, involves producing an; active agent; andpassage of a gaseous fl i I ue'has air, containing theagehtthrou'gh a space and Qca'using rays to" pass through saidspace in {a manner to-icause'a color effect' onbbjectscon e51 tain'ed' within said space orin c'ontact therewith; The agent if ozone or like product, may be active 7 a i iii estm el 'r' Odors? and bac a 0d riferous substance suchgasa perfume may be addedltothe'airto p oduce ame San lerreQt en} th o aew rqr e s s h: e ec be n n n e u on; an nfl enc by ayl fi i ai nra a P n withinthe space and close to its 'ultima'te pointi "Anode- 1 ma b p sa i fa q and e be "1 de irable nd even. bff i e: nix d tw t er 7 5 odorssuch as a' boclyv odor. "My'processimay thus a a j: 1 1 .7 the pointwof application or use.

One portion of the surface of a tube'may'direct light against a mirror-likelsurface, This" feature may be used to blend colors and to. give ating such apparatus as ozone generators and iuminous tubes and involving a direct current supply requires a motor generator set in combination which 'is invariably located at a point remote to My process involves passing the applied current through a 2 motor: and then generating high voltage at a point separated'therefrom' The separation of voltage greater efficiency' as by throwing light'to a se- 7 Prisms or other forms maybe con;- trolledasto relative position with the rays conby a'matter' of inches is important as it avoids -,a hazard prevalent in ordinary design wherein high voltage and line service are separated only as byva'rnished cambricin thin layers.

One :form of generator of high voltage, may have'a rotor carrying a conductor in coil form and with the axis of rotation parallel to the lines of'forcef The coil form may be such as to build up voltage and the field structure and coil form made such'as to give controlled frequency. Speed of rotation and field strength may also be used "undesirable effects oi'the ordinaryluminous tube 1s=1tnennuanng and annoying efiect' due to the monochromatic, or nearly so, effect and the predominance of theirritating reddish orange in'the case of'neon light. By my method whereby a disharge zone". operates with a luminous tube or tubes the light efiect is desirably changed to lessen the irritating efiect and by proper adjustment a neontube'; for eXaniple'may be caused to yield a light "yellow and practically a white light. Althoughf-itis' possible to produce a nearly white light lprefer that the lights should be colored to a noticeable extent but that the lights should'be devoidof'irritatin g'and unnatural effects characteristic of lumination by neon, argon, mercury and similar luminous tubes. My method of combining colored" tubes and then influencing and desirably or favorably changing the operation thereof by the discharge member, produces lights 'which are pleasant and tolerable and devoid of irritating and damaging effect to the optical nerves. a 7

'It ispossibleto get luminosity with but one electrode and, under som'e'con-ditions, operation may-be obtained without any'electrode passing into the'gas filled tube. If an aluminum foil or other means of getting a contact to the outer surface of a tube is used, a glow will result. This general method involving a so-formed non-penetrating electrdde," makes 'it'possible to have more light at selected portions of a luminous'tube.

' Theuseof high'irquency makes it possible to contact tubes in parallel. With ordinary irequencyparallel circuits cause much variationin intensity of the illumination-. v

My invention may also provide for meansfo'r tuning the gap discharge with the neon or other tube. This may be done as by controlling the dielectric and frequency. 1 Such tuning with high frequency gives high efliciency and makes it'possible to connect two or more tubes in parallel and enables the use of relatively low voltages.

A moving electrode has been used such as for a rotary spark gap in awireless telegraph .set'. The discharge across the gap is of the spark type. It is not continuous and is an interrupted discharge which for all practical purposes makes and breaks. My invention preferably involves a continuous discharge with practically nointerruption, a true brush discharge-being suitable for most purposes.

An electrode may be caused tomove relative to a second electrode which is spaced therefrom and a current caused to pass across the gap therebetween. A dielectric may be placed in the gap to cause desirable effects. This causes a flow or discharge with excellent properties. Fixed electrodes sometimes allow localized discharge between a point on one electrode to one on the other, whereas, if one is moved the discharge conditions are continuously changed, as regard local infiu ences, such as those due to local imperfections or variations in shape electrodes or conductors and the distance therebetween. Such change thus in reality insures approximate uniformity of flow.

The form of electrode combination found suitable for such operation is an edge operating with a flat or curved surface. A point may be used as a substitute for the edge. Where a dielectric is used it is preferably flat or curved.

The process may be carried out in apparatus such as that illustrated in Fig. l. A revolving means, such as motor I driven by current from supply wires 2 and controlled by lever 3 operating with contact 4 and resistance 5, drives a shaft 6 connecting with flexible coupling 1 controlling the movement of shaft extension 8. The shaft extension is revolved in stationary bearings such as 9 and I and bears a rotor H which revolves therewith.

The rotor Il may carry a suitable insulating disc such as fibre l2 so-formed as to carry a coil form l3. One or more conducting discs such as [4 and I5 may be mounted on disc l2 by means of spacers such as insulators l6 and I1.

Field generating coils such as l8 and I9 may be operated in a controlled manner and wound about iron structures 28 and 2| which may be maintained stationary as by means of bolt 22 contained in spoke 23 of the integral piece 9, 2i and 23. Lips or projections 24 and 25 may project from the piece 2| so as to direct the magnetic field the lines of force of which are cut by the conductor of the coil E3. The polarity and strength of the field and windings of coil I3 are made so as to give the desired voltage. Frequency may be influenced by coil and field arrangement, the projections 24 and 25 for example being in multiple about a circle and causing variation in field.

The coil l3 may be made up of a multiplicity of parts such as small sections of coil of about the insulators IGand IT.-- The other terminal of the coil may be contacted to the'frame as a sort of ground connection by means of wire 26.

' Voltagegenerated in the coil I3 may cause current to flow from the edges of discs l4 and IE to dielectric cylinders 21 and 28 contacting the metallic parts 20 and 2! also grounde and thus causing a brush discharge. This discharge will act on gaseous fluid contained in or passing through the discharge zonesuch as at 29.

l A contact such "as 30 may ride the disc 14 or be separated therefrom by a small gap. This contact may supply current to tubes 3| and 32 which maybe of glass and contain a gaseous mixture such'as' argonand mercury. Current will flow through tube to the opposite electrode and to the ground as illustrated. This flow will cause abluish luminous effect. There are other and perhaps more desirable wiringmeans that will create different and desired efiects.

The discs 33-and 34 may be perforated and constructed as desired such as to control air fiow and to contact the same with parts such as the tubes and/or the discharge. These discs may be of glassgfibre or other suitable structural material and designed so as to hold the parts in desired positions. a

A'ray filter 35 may be used to control the effects ofthe rays passing from the outer surface thereof; This makes it possible to modify the net effect. 'This filter may be circular to conform with the general construction or it may be of other shape and it may be of variable action through sections of -its surface. The filter may be carried as by means of ring 36 and pins 31 and supplemented by braces, not shown, if so desired.

Fan blades 38 may be mounted as shown, or their equivalent, such as by wings attached to the rotor I I, provided this causes air motion. If air such as nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen or other gaseous fluid is forced downward it may enter as through the opening 39 with curved edges 40 and 4| and then after treatment as by ozone and rays may discharge through openings located close to 31. The apparatus and method may be used for influencing or promoting reaction of various gaseous fluids that may be so ionized or excited or otherwise treated by rays or discharge.

One variation of the process is the method which comprises rotating the luminous parts. For example tubes of various kinds and shapes may be rotated to cause pleasing and attractive color effects. In such instances the potential coils may be interconstructed with the tubes or separated therefrom. Variation of speed of rotation may be made to cause variation in color and in the design of the visible efiect.

Numerous other variations and combinations may be used for example the generation of voltage may be accomplished by revolving the field and having the coils stationary or by other means of causing relative motion between a field and a conductor.

The wiring diagram as shown in Fig. 2 may be used to form a series parallel connection wherein coils 42 and 43 are shown as cutting lines of force 44, 45, 46 and 41. They are pictured as rotating about the centerline 48. Voltage so generated passes to disc 49 and across ionizing gap 50 to dielectric 5| and conductor 52. Upon passing from electrode 53 to electrode 54 and causing ionization in tube 55 a luminous elfect is produced, the circuit being completed by passing from 56 to 51 and thence the coil 43.

Another series .vform vis illustrated in .Fig.;3i

wherein the. parts correspond to those of Fig. 2 the tube construction being multiple; ,Tubes 58,

the 1wa'rm air containing-body odors may be treated with rays and ozone at their normal place rot-collection. The deflector may be mirrored to throw 'light' downward. Arrangement of the surface of the tubes to form. a conical or other equivalent shape 'will .also assist; in :directing and/or. controlling theilluminating effect as desi redQ: V "Another feature. :of ';'the, invention involves means for making appar ntthe fact that air is in b motion, ,This permits of] a; psychological effect 7 actual: motion} of the airbut whereby his visual-v v izingi the indicationof such motion. causes him whereby an observeris not only benefited by the to actuallygenjoy hissurroun dingsgto a greater degreeandimag'ine, that he is cooler than he reallyis.,f I ,4

. This maybe accomplished as shown in Fig. 1,

by. hanging ;amultiplicity ofthreadsor other form'ofindi'catorfrom the edge 36. As the air is caused {to move downwardly and outward through the opening near 3'| these threads would be givena motion indicating that a draft or wind was being produced. ;.I..do not limit mygclaim tothe particular examples. and illustrations shown. Other equiva: lent and modified methods and means may be employed to produce similar results.

I claim: e

In anozone generator the combination of. a stream-lined .base adapted to flow air through a housing, a vertical motor therewithin, an upper housing secured to and spaced from the base and enclosed in windowsand Opened. at top and bottom, a cover plate spaced from the housing and adapted to throw air radially, an extended vertical shaft separably connected with the motor and projecting from'the base and within the housing and carrying av fan adapted to throw air in a vertical direction, a pair of disc electrodes/ rand distinct and insulated generator windings apart from'the motor and supported by an insulating disc and adapted to rotate at a distance from the shaft, a pair of stationary hollow cylindrical multipoled magnets concentric with the shaft and spaced therefrom and affronting the windings rotating therebetween and containing a smooth inner surface adapted to receive a dielectric, a cylindrical dielectric attached to the inner surface of each of the two magnets and to operate with the disc electrodes and spaced therefrom, multiple pole and windings means to generate high potential in the windings and to flow it to the electrodes and across the rotating discharge gaps spaced from the dielectrics, and means to isolate and insulate the parts of high potential. 1

' JUSTIN F. WAIT. 

